We spent 2 years looking for the right RV to come along. I saw lots of wet, leaky, dirty, overpriced units in that time. I learned that RV sales has seasons.
In the early Spring you will find the most units available. You will also find that is when a lot of folks begin their search. Prices are OK but get higher as Summer approaches.
From June through August, generally, all you will find on dealer lots are rigs that they couldn't sell during the Spring rush. The closer to August the less units are out there. Prices are high because demand exceeds supply. You may find a private sale but most are being used by their owners with the hope to sell it in the Fall after they are done using it.
September to October is probably the best time to buy from a buyers's standpoint. People are looking to sell before they have to pay for storage over the winter and prices are generally at their best. Dealers are particularly anxious to sell as they don't want to floor the unit over the doldrums of Winter. This is when we did finally buy our Class C from a private party on CL.
November to March is the dead time for RV sales. You may find one and be able to negotiate a great price because typically few folks are in the market at this time. The main issue for a buyer is that the inventory is very low.
I am a pretty good judge of mechanical stuff I am considering but I highly recommend taking any prospective purchase to a qualified RV shop and have it inspected, both the chassis and the house. A good shop should be able to do this in 2-3 hours. It cost me $250 a few years ago. This way you can feel good the the brakes are up to snuff, The suspension is good, the engine has been cared for and all the appliances are working and there are no leaks. Sometimes, one's eyes get blinded by the desire and miss some problems. A second set of eyes is great insurance.
